.png)
Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning
🎧 Adventures in Learning with Dr. Diane 🎧
Inspire curiosity. Spark creativity. Fuel a lifelong love of learning.
Are you an educator, librarian, parent, or STEM/STEAM enthusiast looking to make learning come alive for kids? Adventures in Learning with Dr. Diane is your go-to podcast for hands-on, joyful learning that connects STEM/STEAM education, multicultural children's literature, and real-world exploration.
Join Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor, educator and explorer, as she travels the world (literally and virtually!) to bring you conversations with award-winning authors, illustrators, educators, scientists, and STEM leaders. Each episode delivers fresh ideas, engaging stories, and practical tips to inspire early childhood and elementary learners—in the classroom, the library, or at home. Wonder, curiosity, connection, and play -- we bring the world to you!
🌎 Featuring:
- Innovative STEM/STEAM experiences
- Diverse children's book recommendations
- Strategies for inquiry-based, joyful learning through play
- Voices from around the globe that inspire the WOW
🧠 Perfect for:
Early childhood & elementary educators | School librarians | Homeschoolers | Caregivers | STEM/STEAM champions
🔗 Explore featured books: bookshop.org/shop/drdianeadventures
📝 Read full show notes: drdianeadventures.com/blog
💌 Have an idea or guest suggestion? Email: diane@drdianeadventures.com
👉 Subscribe, rate, and review to support more Adventures in Learning!
Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning
How Illustrator Reggie Brown Brings Big Feelings to Life in The Snowman Code
What happens when an illustrator channels courage, mental health, and a 600-year-old sarcastic snowman into a single powerful story? In this inspiring conversation, The Snowman Code illustrator Reggie Brown reveals how he transformed a charming seasonal narrative into a visually rich, emotionally resonant world—and how his own life experiences shaped every brushstroke.
If you’re an educator, caregiver, librarian, picture-book lover, or emerging illustrator, this episode offers a masterclass in storytelling through art, navigating big feelings with creativity, and following unexpected paths into meaningful work.
Episode Summary
In Episode 166, Dr. Diane sits down with illustrator Reggie Brown, whose artwork elevates The Snowman Code—a winter story that tackles seasonal depression, parentification, courage, and connection. Reggie shares how he intuitively designs characters like Blessing and Albert and how he transitioned from biotech to bestselling illustrator after a life-changing moment during the pandemic.
Listeners also get a sneak peek at Reggie’s upcoming 2026 projects, including Walk the Walk and Do You See Me?, plus a heartwarming story of hope, family, and the Star Wars–themed Christmas surprise that changed his life forever.
Chapters
00:27 – Designing a Story Beyond Snowflakes
03:41 – Illustrating Mental Health with Care
04:39 – From Biotech to Books: Reggie’s Unconventional Path
07:00 – Comics, Storytelling, and Illustration Craft
07:54 – A Lifelong Sci-Fi Fan
09:06 – Books You Should Know
11:15 – What’s Coming in 2026?
13:10 – What Makes a Manuscript Irresistible
13:47 – A New Source of Hope
Links
Connect with Reggie Brown on Website, Instagram and LinkedIn
Check out Reggie's Books: The Snowman Code, Magnificent Makers, Santa and the City, Bros, Little Big Man, Who Are Your People?, Walk the Walk , Do You See Me?
Subscribe to the Daily Picture Book Read-Aloud Calendar
Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.
Podcasts we love
Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.
Solve It! For Kids
Solve It For Kids - Podcast